What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C32-54 Isoalkane
EmollientC12-18 Alkanoyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantSucrose Laurate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, C32-54 Isoalkane, C12-18 Alkanoyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Phytosterols, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sucrose Laurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Cetearyl Olivate
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Trideceth-10
CleansingHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Brassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract
AstringentHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sedum Sarmentosum Extract
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cetearyl Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Carbomer, Glyceryl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Trideceth-10, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Brassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sedum Sarmentosum Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sucrose Palmitate, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
